Transfer unit for conveyers



June 1, 1954 c, A, scHu-r-r 2,679,810

TRANSFER UNIT FOR CONVEYERS Filed Feb. l2 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l I nVenter Clarence A. Schuif @MMM Atlomeys June 1, 1954 c. A. scHUTTTRANSFER UNIT FoR coNvEYERs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1951 Fig. 4

Inventor Clarence A. Schutt @d/wy 5.7mm

Patented June l, 1954 maar TRANSFER UNIT FOR CONVEYERS Clarence A.Schutt, Nashville, rllenn.

Application February l2, 1951, Serial No. 210,476

Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in conveyorsystems generally, and more particularly pertains to a novel trans ferunit for transferring article carriers from one conveyor to a furtherconveyor.

The primary object of the present invention is to feed article carriersto a conveyor therefor at a rate corresponding to the load capacity ofthe conveyor.

Another important object of the present invention is to stop theoperation of a conveyor when the feed of the article carriers theretohas been interrupted.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide ameans for transferring article carriers from a rst conveyor to a secondconveyor in such a manner that the second conveyor will be always loadedto a predetermined load capacity irrespective of the rate of operationor the loading of the iirst conveyor.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in theconstruction of the gates and the means actuated by the fingers on thereceiving conveyor to alterifiately dispose the gates in carrierinterrupting positions.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in theelectric switch means for controlling the operation of the conveyor,together with the pivotal mounting of the discharge gate for actuatingthe electric switch means in response to engagement of the dischargegate by an article carrier.

Still other important features of the present invention reside in thesimplicity of construction, and the durability and eiciency of themachine in its intended use.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodimentof which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the invention, the conveyorsbeing broken away and certain hidden details of the invention beingshown in .dotted outline;

Figures 2 4 are fragmentary detail views of the construction of thegates and the mounting thereof, portions of these views being shown insection and hidden construction shown in dotted outline; these viewsillustrating sequential steps in the operation of the gates;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail View taken upon the plane ofthe section line dof Figure 1; and

(Cl. Q-93) Figure 6 is a diagragrammatic view of the electrical system.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings,wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the variousviews, and in which there is designated generally a horizontal conveyorand an inclined conveyor I0 and l2, respectively, with a transfer unitI4 interposed between such conveyors.

The conveyor lil comprises a support rail i6 supported by a strap I8below a structural frame member 20. The support rail i6 guidinglysupports article carriers designated generally at 22, The conveyor lealso includes an endless chain 24 having parallel spaced horizontalflights, one of which flights is disposed immediately above the rail i 6and parallel thereto. Lugs 26 depend from and are spaced at intervalsalong the chain 2li, and are engageable with the carriers 22 to move thelatter along the rail I6 in the direction indicated by the arrow 28.Means is provided for supporting and driving the chain 2li (onlypartially shown) which means include sprockets disposed at the oppositeends of the chain 2li over which the latter is entrained, one of suchsprockets being mounted on and driven by a shaft 3@ that is journaledthrough a suitable bearing 32 mounted on the structural frame member 20.

The conveyor l2 is somewhat analogous to the conveyor I0 and comprisesspaced inclined frame members 34 and 36 which are supported and securedto the frame 20 in any suitable manner. An inclined support rail 38 issupported below and in parallel relation to the members 34 and 36 bystraps 4B carried by the member 34, the rail being disposed directlybelow the space between the members 34 and 36. A

An endless chain l2 is provided having spaced upper and lower inclinedflights Sli and 5, re'- spectively, and the upper end of the chain 42 isentrained over a drive sprocket t8 that is suitably mounted for rotationabove the member 2B by means not shown. Although not shown, it will beunderstood that the lower end of the chain l2 is entrained over afurther sprocket.

Means is provided to drive the chain 42, which includes an electricmotor 50 drivingly connected by belt and pulley means 52 to the input'shaft 54 of a speed reducer 56. The output shaft 58 of the speed reduceris drivingly connected to the sprocket 48 by a drive chain 60 entrainedover a sprocket 62 on the shaft 58 and a sprocket B4 fixed to andcoaxial with the sprocket 38.

Fixed at spaced intervals along the chain 42 are laterally extendingfingers 6E' provided with rollers B8. It will be noted that the fingers65 project downwardly from the lower ight 46 of the chain and aredisposed in close proximity to the rail 3B. As best shown in Figure 5,the fingers 66 and the rollers, when moving' along the lower flight 46are disposed in the travel path of the carriers 22 which are guidinglysupported on the rail 38, the arrangement being such that a carrier 22will rest against the rollers 63 and move downwardly on the rail 38 atthe same speed with which the chain 42 travels. It will be appreciatedthat the carriers 22 gravitate on the inclined rail 38 towards the rightas shown in Figure 1.

As best shown in Figure 5, the carriers 22 comprise a body 'I0 having agrooved roller 72 journaled in its upper end that engages on the top ofthe rail 38, and the body 10 is provided with a hook 14 at its lower endfor supporting articles such as meat or the like, not shown.

Means is provided to prevent the carriers from being displaced from therail 36 which includes parallel guide strips I6 and 18, respectively,disposed on opposite sides of the travel path of the upper ends of thecarriers 22, the strip '.16 being secured to the strap 40 and the strip'I8 being secured to strap 30 depending from the member 36. In addition,the chain 42 is retained against lateral movement by parallel guidestrips 62 and 84 disposed on the opposite sides of the flight 46 of thechain and suitably fastened to the members 34 and 36, respectively, bybrackets 86 and 88.

The transfer unit i 4 comprises an inclined support rail 90 connectingthe rails i6 and 38 along which the carriers 22 may move by gravitationfrem the rail i6 to the rail 38, the rail 00 being supported from themember 20 and 34, respectively, by straps 92 and 04.

The unit |4 further includes means for controlling the movement of thecarriers along the rail 90. Such means includes an actuating lever 96pivotally mounted at 98 on the member 20. A safety gate and a dischargegate |02 are pivotally supported on the lever 96 at positions |04 and|06, respectively, on opposite sides of the pivot 98, the arrangementbeing such that the lever 96 may be rocked between positions in whichone of the gates is disposed in the travel path of a carrier 22 on therail 90 while the other gate is not disposed in the travel path of thecarrier 22. A plate |06 is mounted on the strap S2, which plate |60 isprovided with a guide aperture ||0 through which the safety gate |00slidably extends to prevent lateral movement of the` safety gate, andalso to guide the vertical movement thereof. In addition, the plate |03is provided with a guide slot l |2 through which the discharge gate |02slidably extends to permit a limited amount of vertical swingingmovement thereof.

An electric switch I4 is mounted on the member 20, which switch |4 isprovided with an outwardly extending actuating arm H6, the arm ||6 beingspring-pressed by a spring H8 (see Figure 6) to move the arm ||6outwardly from the switch i I 4 to open the latter, and also to urge thearm H6 to bear on the discharge gate |02 to swing the latter to theleft, as shown in Figures 1 4, the arrangement being such that swingingthe discharge gate 02 to the right moves the arm H6 to close the switch||4.

The switch 4 controls the operation of the motor 50, as will be seen inFigure v6. The reference numerals |20 and |22 designate electrical powerleads, the power lead |20 being connected to one terminal of theelectric motor 50, while the lead |22 is connected to one terminal ofthe electric switch H4. The other terminal of the electric switch i4 isconnected to the other terminal of the electric motor 50 by connectingelectrical lead |24, the arrangement being such that closure of theswitch ||4 will energize the electric motor 50 from the leads |20 and|22. A manually operated switch |26 is provided which is connected tothe leads |22 and |24 by conductors |28 and |30, respectively, thearrangement being such that the switches ||4 and |28 are in electricalparallel, so that the motor 50 may be energized manually when the switch||4 is open.

Means is provided to rock the lever 96 in timed relation to the movementof the fingers 66 passing a predetermined position. Such means includesan elongated lever |32 pivoted intermediate its ends at |34 to a support|36 carried by the member 20. A link |36 has its opposite extremitiespivotally connected to the levers 96 and |32 so that rocking movement ofthe lever |32 will be imparted to the lever 96. An elongated rod |40 ismounted in a suitable guide |42 carried by the member for longitudinalreciprccation. The rod is substantially vertical, and is provided with astop |44 to limit downward movement of the Same. The rod 40 is pivotallysecured to the lever |32 by a pin |46 extending through the lever |32and a selected aperture of a series of apertures |48 provided in the rod|40 above the stop |44. As thus far described, it will be seen thatvertical reciprocation of the rod |40 imparts a rocking movement to thelever |32. In addition, it will be Seen that when the end of the lever|32 that is secured to the rod |40 moves downwardly, the lever 96 isrocked so that the discharge gate |02 moves downwardly while the safetygate |00 moves upwardly. The lever |32 is yieldingly urged to a positionin which further downward movement of the rod |40 is limited by the stop|44 by a coiled tension spring |50 connecting the lever |32 and themember 20.

The lower end of the rod |40 is provided with a foot |52 that isdisposed in the travel path of the rollers 68 on the ngers 6E as thelatter mentioned elements move along the upper ight 44 of the chain 42.The relation of the foot |52 to the rollers 68 is such that duringupward movement cf the rollers 68, the rollers 68 will contact theunderside of the foot |52 and cam the latter upwardly so as to move therod |40 upwardly through the guide |42. The upward movement of the rod|40 by engagement of rollers 68 with the foot |52 is of a sufcientamount to rock the lever 96 to a position in which the safety gate 00 islowered into the travel path of the carriers 22 on the rail and thedischarge gate |02 is raised above the travel path of such carriers.

It is believed that the operation of the present invention will bereadily understood. For an understanding of the operation of the presentinvention, attention is directed to the Figures 2-4. The normal positionof the gates |00 and |02 is shown in Figure 2, it being recalled thatthe spring |50 urges the discharge gate into a position interceptingcarriers 22 moving along the rail 90. Thus, in Figure 2, the gates areshown in their normal position with a carrier 22 shown passing under thegate |00 and approaching the discharge gate |02. In Figure 3, thecarrier 22 is shown as having moved into a position engaging thedischarge gate |02, the latter having stopped further progress of thecarriery 22.'

However, it is to be noted that the carrier 22 exerts sufficient forceagainst the discharge gate to swing the latter into a position movingthe arm l t6 of the electrical switch H4 to a position closing thelatter. Upon closing the switch llt, the motor 5t operates to move thechain i2 so as to cause the roller` t8 of one of the fingers to raisethe rod iii@ by coaction of the roller with the foot of the rod Idil, sothat the discharge gate |62 is raised to the position shown in Figure4;, it being noted that raising of the discharge gate permits thecarrier engaging the discharge gate to move free ci the discharge gate,while the safety gate l0@ has been lowered to prevent the movement of asubsequent carrier thereby. After the rod I has been raised a suflicientamount so that the discharge gate releases the carrier engaging thesame, the inertia of the driving means for the chain l2 carries thechain a sufricient furtner distance to free the roller 58 engaging thefoot from the latter, whereupon the spring |55 returns the transfer unitto the position shown in Figure 2, with the operation of the motor Eilhaving ceased. It will be appreciated that the apparatus is in conditionfor a repeat operation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation oi the device will bereadily apparent and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.However, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoingspecification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction shown and described, but allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope or the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. Means for feeding article carriers to a conveyor assembly of the typeincluding a conveyor rail for guidingly supporting carriers and anendless conveyor having spaced fingers thereon for engaging carriers onthe conveyor rail; said means comprising an inclined carrier supportrail adapted to have its lower end connected to the conveyor rail as acontinuation thereof, said support rail being adapted to guidinglysupport carriers thereon for descent by gravitation, a safety gate and adischarge gate mounted adjacent the junction of said conveyor andsupport rails, means supporting the gates for alternate movement thereofinto spaced positions adapted to intercept carriers descending on thesupport rail, means yieldingly urging the discharge gate into carrierintercepting position, said discharge gate being mounted for limitedpivotal movement upon engagement with a carrier, electric means adjacentsaid discharge gate responsive to engagement of a carrier with thedischarge gate to causo movement of the endless conveyor, and meansresponsive to movement of a finger through a predetermined position tomove the discharge gate from the intercepting position.

2. Means for transferring article carriers between a pair of conveyorassemblies of the type including a conveyor rail and an endless conveyorhaving spaced lingers thereon for engaging carriers on the rail; saidmeans comprising an inclined carrier support rail adapted to have itsopposite ends connected to the rails of a pair of conveyor assemblies,said support rail being adapted to guidingly support carriers thereonfor descent by gravitation, a safety gate and a discharge gate disposedabove said support rail, means supporting the gates for alternate move-6 ment thereof into spaced positions adapted to intercept carriersdescending on the support rail from the conveyor assembly connected tothe upper end of the support rail, said discharge gate being normallydisposed in intercepting position, said discharge gate being supportedfor limited 'pivotal movement upon engagement with a carrier, electricmeans including a switch adjacent the discharge gate responsive toengagement of a carrier with the discharge gate to cause` movement ofthe endless conveyor of the conveyor assembly connected to the lower endof the support rail, and means responsive to movement of a ringer of thelast-mentioned assembly through a predetermined position to move thedischarge gate from its carrier intercepting position.

3. A conveyor system comprising a pair of conveyor assemblies, each ofwhich includes a conveyor rail and an endless conveyor having spacedfingers thereon for engaging article carriers on the rail, means fortransferring article carriers from one of the assemblies to the other,said last means comprising an inclined carrier support rail having itsopposite ends connected to the rails of the assemblies, said supportrail being adapted to guidingly support carriers thereon for descent bygravitation, a safety gate and a discharge gate, means supporting thegates for a1- ternate movement into spaced positions adapted tointercept carriers descending on the support rail from the conveyorassembly connected to the upper end of the support rail, said dischargegate being normally disposed in intercepting position, and beingsupported for limited pivotal movement upon engagement by a carrier,electric means including a switch adjacent the discharge gate responsiveto engagement of a carrier with the discharge gate to cause movement ofthe endless conveyor of the conveyor assembly connected to the lower endof the support rail, and means responsive to movement of a linger of thelastrnentioned endless conveyor through a predetermined position to movethe discharge gate from its intercepting position.

4. In a conveyor system, a support rail for article carriers, an endlessconveyor having spaced iingers thereon, a portion of the travel path ofthe ngers being parallel to the support rail for engaging carriersthereon, a safety gate and a discharge gate, means for supporting thegates for a ernate movement into positions adapted to intercept themovement oi article carriers on the support rail, said last meansincluding a lever connected at spaced positions to the gates andpivotally supported intermediate such spaced positions, means yieldinglyurging pivotal movement of the lever towards a position in which thedischarge gate is in intercepting position, and means disposed adjacentthe travel path of the fingers and operable by the movement of one ofthe fingers thereby to urge pivotal movement of the lever in oppositionto the last means and normally inoperative means for moving the endlessconveyor, and electric switch means operatively associated with thedischarge gate for rendering said last means operative, said dischargegate being responsive to engagement thereof by a carrier to actuate suchswitch means.

5, In a conveyor system, an inclined support rail adapted to guidinglysupport an article carrier for gravitational descent therealong, anendless conveyor havingspaced ngers thereon adapted to engage carrierson the support rail, means for feeding carriers onto the support rail intimed relation to movement of the fingers past a predetermined position,said last means including a lever disposed above said support rail. asafety gate and a discharge gate mounted in spaced positions on saidlever, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediate the spacedpositions, said gates being selectively and alternately positionable inthe travel path of carriers descending on the support rail adjacent theupper end of the latter, electrical means responsive to engagement of acarrier with the discharge gate to permit movement of the endlessconveyor, said electrical means including a switch mounted adjacent saiddischarge gate, said discharge gate 8 being pivotally mounted on saidlever and contacting said switch and actuating said electrical meansupon engagement with a carrier, means operatively connected to saidlever and disposed in the path of movement of the conveyor fingers torock said lever and move said gates.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l0Number Name Date 533,184 Svenson Jan. 29, 1895 881,212 Washington Mar.10, 1908 1,396,804 Wood Nov. 15, 1921 1,556,724 Shaffer Oct. 13, 1925

